Connector



J. E..NORTH CONNECTOR Aug. 16, 1949.

Filed Oct. l5, 1947 I atia'low price." i

Patented Aug. 16, 1949 One object of the invention is to provide 'f connector which makes unnecessary the threading of the conduit as is often done.` ff l f -An'other object of thelin'ven'tion is the provision of a connector I which' is predominantly formed of stamped'or formed sheet metal pieces, 'z

and requiringv fori-its fabrication noniachining or die-threading `to form the nut-receiving body threads, in consequence'ofwhich the article'inay be made at minimum expense and sold izo-users L Still another important obect and advantageofthe invention is -thatitfacilitatesiconnection v of conduit and -outlet boxlinthatinuse of the device access to thewinside- 'of the lbox-`for purposes other than for insertion of `a part ofthe connector is unnecessary, 'all'frequiredholding, as, for instance, against rotation, and all `required .tighteningof kthe parts with respect to VVonelan'- Figf-2 isap'lan viewof vthe externally applied anti-turn washer used in the invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the bi-partite cylinder` which receives'the nut'shown in Fig; 6; f f -Fig' is an end viewof the structure of Fig.

Fig.`5 is a cross-sectional View ofthe showing of'Fig, 3 taken substantially along the linef--` of Fi`g.3;vand 'Y 'l 'f Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view oftherinteriorly threaded nut receivable overv the exteriorly threaded surfaces of the structure of Fig. 3.

Referring now to Fig. 1,' reference numeral Il) indicates a piece of electricwire-bearing pipelike conduit and I I indicates aconventional-outlet box having therein a suitable wire and conduit receiving opening I2. The connector is Shownfin fully attached and integratedcondition in Fig. 1A and consistsof the cylindrical structure I3 Yshown in Figs. 3, 42and 'nth'ev antiturn washer I4. of Fig. 2- andfthe nut I5 ofFigi.

As best shown in Fig. 3 the conduit receiving cylinder I3 may comprise two similar thin sheet lio metal' generally sehn-cylindricalportions II,- ITI" each havingf'at their rearportionsv out-turned flangesfISyISv formingfshoulders which abut a retaining-'washer'ZDg Washer 20 holds the semicylindrical portions` in cylinder-forming' relation but permits s'uicient -movem'ent ofY each withv respect to the otherto allow'them to spread apart' sufficiently to internally receive thel end ofthe conduit into the -longitulinal opening Ybetween the generally semi-cylindrical portions at: theends thereof which are spaced from washer 2l);

lA part ofthe sidewall of one-of the cylindrical pieces (inthis case shown as being generally semi-cylindrical portion Il-)`Y is cutaway lungi-'i tudinally thereof forming alinear 'slot 2 I which.l extends to the end Pof cylinder i3 oppositeits engagernent-withwasher?2li;Y It will-be noted: that sl'ot'2lV does notex'tend througlioutthe en-t tire-length of Semi-cylindrical'portion I6, a lug. portion 22 being'left so'that the cylinder 'portionadjacent washer-V20 is 'of generally annular configuration throughout so the semi-cylindrical portions may swing with respect toone another atfithat endco'n-ned bythe washer 20 `Withinv the limits'permitted by the latterfor easy conduit receiving-purposes 1 as Y shown f by the 1 dotted lines in '-Fig. 3, and also so thatithe `threads of the two semi-cylindrical portions will remain in properly aligned'relation during and after application of the nut.

i -snu-cyundricai porn-Ons 15 nare stampedV out -to'forrnthereon' peripheral threads 23 havingirelatively shallowstraight shoulders 24 and relatively lengthy sloping faces 25, a factor making for easy-reception of correspondinglyinternally threaded nut I5 and forirm frictional retention of the nut. Being formed of relatively thin 'metaL the interior surfaces of` semi-cylininternal @threads -corresponding toA exterior threads 123;"thesharpjunctures v2610i. the "faces andslopes oli-.which form V'continuous -Iinwardly directed ridges whichrmlyengage the periphery of `a conduit or thelikeinserted in the device in the assembled condition thereof.

' the latter so that it may be freely received thereont" Opening 21 would be completely annular except forv anvinwardly directed lug 28 which-is of smaller dimension than'slot'ZIVv (Fig. 3) and Ais receivable therein in attached condition of the Y washer. Exteriorly washer I4 is provided with As sho-wn inrig. 6;; nur i5 isprovidedrwitn internal threads Sil`L corresponding throughout" to the configuration of exterior threads 23 of the structure of Fig. 3, upon which such nut threadingly receivable. Nut I is exteriorly hex- .V

agonally shaped as at 3l for wrench-receiving purposes, and at its inner end is provided withaa. planar annular shoulder 32, which abuts anti; turn washer face surface 33'in assembled condi'- tion of the device.

To use a device of the: invention the structure of Fig. 3 is inserted, into the box I- If andthrough opening. I2. therein so that the inner 4surface 0f washer 2li abuts the lateral edgesl of the opening with.'y the threaded portion extend-ing outwardly through the' opening'. Washer I4 is then inserted over the outwardly extending threaded portion withlug; 23 positioned within slot 2i. The lateral washer surfaces 29'.: 29` are then wrench-grasped andthe nut I5. slipped over the conduity I0. The end of thev conduit is then inserted` into the end open-ing between semi-cylindrical portions I6, Il and they nut is thenthreaded-- upon the exterior threads. of such portions. As previously stated, thefhold-ing of washer- I4- will effectively prevent turning of the structure of Fig. 3 during the, threading-on of theV nut, and in being threaded on theparts, semi-cylindrical. portions IIL` I'I will be swung toward one another so that theinternalridges 26 will bite into. the exterior surfaces of conduit: I0, eiifectively holding it, in, desired position and effectively joining the conduit and the outlet box.

While I have sho-wn and described` my invention with considerable; particularity I do not Wish the exactness of showing and. description to be' taken in` other than an illustrative sense, desir.- toy be limited only by thev scope of the appended claims.

1. A connector comprisingroppositely disposed thin-Walled semi-cylindrical portions held in generally hollow cylinder-forming relation and having-nut-rece'iving threads onl their external peri-pheries, a washerl encompassing said semicylindrical portions at one end thereof and holding them in above-mentioned relation yet per-- mitting movement of each with respect tothe other to. freely receive between them the; end ofv a conduit, said washer adapted to internally abut Wall of a conduit box having an opening therein through which said vsemi-cylindrical portions extend in the connected condition of said connector, an internally threaded nut threadable over the exterior lof lsaid semi-cylindrical portions to hold them in vconduit-retaining relation, and meansassociated with said semi-cylindrical portions exteriorly of the conduit box to which said connector. fis attached and adjacent said nut to prevent turning of said semi-cylindrical portions inning 'attachment `of said nut.

.2. A connector according to claim 1 in which 'l longitudinally/extending slot is provided beftween adjacent semi-,cylindrical lportions and the 4 holding means comprises a, washer having wrench receiving sides and an internal lug positionable in said slot.

3. A connector comprising an externally threaded thin-walled and hollow generally cylindrical portion open at both ends and one end of which is bent outwardly and away from said cylinder to form a shoulder of greater cross dimension than the opening in a conduit box through which" said connector is inserted from thekk inside, the wall of'fsaidcylinder having at least one longitudinally extending slot therein s0 fthe cylinder may be sprung apart sumciently to .receive the end of a conduit having an external `cross dimension approximating the internal Tcross :dimension of said cylinder, and an inter- .nallyuthreadedhutadapted for reception on the external'threads of 4said cylinder, said nut c0- actinglwith the slotted cylinder wall to bring said cylinder into impingement with the outer surfaces ofthe conduit while forcing the connector into engagement with the wallv of the conduitbox to which.y it is being connected, and means for holding the connector against rotation during tightening of; the mit, said means being exterior of theconduitbox, remote from said shoulder and adjacent said nut.v Y,

4. A connector as setr forthin claim in which the means for holding the.` connector against rotation'jcorprises a washerhaving a central opening therein of, a cross. dimension approximating thel exterrlel;V cross dimension of said Cylinder, the; washer being receivable over saidcyl-inder, there being; an ir-iwardlvA directed lug the internal opening of said washer receivable in said slot in said` cylinder, the peripheral sides ot said washer beingV formed tov receive a wrench, and in the connected condition of said connector said washer being positioned on said cylinder ex-. teriorli7 0f a. Conduit box to Which said connector is being applied and behind said nut.

5. A connector comprising a two part body, the parts of which are generally semi-cylindrical, means atvl one end ofthe body-forming semicylindrical parts forV holding saidparts in such relation as to generally form a hollow cylinder, said cylinder being externally threaded and having outwardly flanged shoulder means formed at one end thereof adapted to abut the inner side of a walll oi a conduit' box. having an opening therein: approximating the', diameter of said cylinder and through which. said cylinder may extend in its attached conditiom an internally threaded nut receivable on the exterior threads Aofsaid cylinder to. caerseY the parts of which it is comprised to4 compress into impinging relation on the end of a conduit: inserted into-Said cylinder, and mea-ns forholding said cylinderl against rotation during tightening of said nut, said means being wholly independent of and positioned wholly ex-` teriorly of the wall of the conduit box to which said connectoris-attached.. l

JAMES E. NORTH.

REFERENCES, CITED The following references are of record in the file `of this patent:`

UNITED 'STATES PATENTS 'Iiefenbacher et al. Jiuly 29, V191,11 

